Railway-tie.



J. AVIDSON.

R ILWAY TIB. ATIoN FILED Nov. 27, 190s Patented oct. 19,1909.

@Mum/Iton Y JAMES 1v1. DAVIDSON, orl ROXABELL, oHIo.

RAILWAY-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ct. 19, 1909.

Application led November 27, 1908*.y Serial No. 464,556.

To all whom it may concern: l y

Be it known thatI, JAMES M. DAVIDSON, citizen of the United States, residing at loxabell, in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in railway appliances, relating more particularly to an improved metallic tie, and the invention has for its object a simple, durable and efficient construction of device of this ,character which embodies peculiar means whereby it is held eifectually against any accidental displacement in the ballast, and which is equipped with novel fast-ening means through the instrumentality of which the rails may be secured to the tie so as to be susceptible of having suflicient play to prevent the parts from wearing out because of excessive vibration and undue rigidity of the structure, as is the case with the ordinary metallic ties in general use.

lVith this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe, and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claim.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and to acquire a knowledge of the details j of construction, 5 reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of a railway tie constructed in accordance with myv invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof; and, Fig. 3 is a transverse section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the to same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates a metallic tie, the intermediate portion of which is substantially inverted T- j, shape in cross-section, while the ends are O0 preferably thickened, as indicated at 2 to constitute relatively wide bearing surfaces for the rails 3 that are supported thereon. In addition to the function just mentioned, the thickened end portions also serve to projunction with the upwardly facing shoulders vide opposing shoulders 4 which act in con-` 5 of the intermediate portion to hold the tie against any lateral or vertical displacement inthe ballast. This tie is formed in its upw per face with oppositely disposed hooked lips 6 that engage the inner base anges of the rails 3 to hold the same the desired distance apart and thus maintain the proper gage of the track. In proximity to and eX- tending beyond the outer base flanges of the rails, the thickened end portions 2 are formed with longitudinally extending openings 7 passing vertically therethrough and having their inner walls recessed at the lower ends of the openings to provide interior downwardly facing shoulders 8. These openings 7 are designed to accommodate, respectively, metallic clamps 9 which are recessed intermediate of their ends as shown, in order to provide opposing hooked portions l() and 10a, the hooked portions l0 projecting upwardly above the upper face of the tie and taking over the outer base flanges of the rails to prevent the same from spreading apart and to hold the rails in engagement with the hooked lips 6, so'that the clamps will act in conjunction therewith to effectually secure the rails to the tie. Wedges ll are driven into the openings 7 between the outer ends of the same and the clamps 9, and hold the clamps against the inner walls of the openings to engage the other hooked portions 10a with the interior downwardly facing shoul-A ders 8, and thus prevent the clamps from being removed from the tie when the wedges are in position, the said wedges being preferably formed of wood to afford suiiicient play of the parts during vibration, as when a train is passing along the track, to eliminate the undue rigidity of structure that is so ldetrimental in the ordinary metallic ties in general use. v

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved metallic tie which may be readily laid during the construction of the track, and is held against possible displacement in the ballast; which embodies improved fastening means by which the rails may be quickly secured to the tie or detached therefrom when necessary; which embodies to a marked degree the characteristics of simplicity, durability yand efficiency in construction, and which consists of comparatively few parts that may be easily and cheaply manufactured and readily assembled.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

The combination of a railway tie having an intermediate portion of inverted T-shape in cross-section and provided on opposite sides with upwardly. facing shoulders,- the end portions of the tie being designed to have the rails rest thereon and being relatively wider than the intermediate portion to provide opposing shoulders cooperating with the upwardly facing shoulders for the purposek specified, the end portions being formed with openings extending vertically therethrough and having their walls recessed to constitute downwardly facing interior shoulders, clamps mounted in the respective openings and having opposing hooked portions, one of which is arranged to engage the interior shoulders and the other to tale over the base flange of the rail, and wedges driven into the openings to hold the clamps 1n an operative position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` JAMES M. DAVIDSON. [L s] Witnesses:

VIRGIL HENRY, WALTER HEAD. 

